DEP/DUA/1/39/09 (Normalised version)

James Goodall

1785

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N^o22 December 9^th. 1785

James Goodall at 56 a weaver of a sickly appearance & much emaciated is affected with a most distressing long continued Diarrhoea which however is not constant but varies in degree at different times, & seems to be influenced very much by particular kinds of food. It is of late attended with violent tenesmus & he is subject to severe gripes at times to flatus & to borborygmi. He is now & then attacked with sickness at stomach & uneasiness about the praecordia

He complains too of cough & of some dyspnoea, with viscid expectoration but without any pain of breast.

Pulse very slow & considerably intermitting. Tongue clean. Thirst natural through the day but much increased in the night. Appetite variable, sleeps tolerably, but is affected with great general debility.

These complaints of the bowels began about 33 years ago without any obvious cause. They are generally worse in the winter. The pectoral symptoms supervened about a fortnight ago proceeding as he thinks from cold. He has had some Tincture of Rhubarb lately but without any benefit. Eight years ago he had some medicines from the Dispensary which gave him considerable relief, for some years after.

Cap. Pulv. Ipecac Ji. pro Emet.

December 17. The vomit operated gently & he thinks that the pains of his belly have been somewhat easier for two days past. But he still continues to have two or three loose stools every day, with much tenesmus. Pulse about 80 & with an intermission every 15 or 20 beats

Rx. Tinct. e Kino ℥i.

Vin. Rhei ℥IV M cap. ℥p. bis indies.

24 Thinks he had considerable gripes from the mixture & after he first began the use of it, his looseness seemed to be rather increased. But for these two days past, it has been considerably diminished

Pulse still intermitting. Appetite impaired & the food he takes seems to be often discharged in an undigested state. Cont. Mist cum Tinct e Kino u. a. sed cap. ℥p ter de die.

31. His looseness still continues but the feculent matter discharged has less the appearance of passing in an undigested state

Cont. Mist cum Tinct. e Kino

January 7^th. Has continued his mixture regularly, & the looseness is much diminished so that he has now seldom more than two stools in the day. The feculent matter also appears to be very well digested. He is now almost entirely free from the gripes & tenesmus but still complains of flatus & borborygmi.

Cont. Mist. cum Tinct e Kino u. a.

January 14^th Looseness rather aggravated since the last report. But the faeces have a more digested appearance.

And he is less affected with the gripes. Pulse about 60 & with frequent intermissions Appetite bad.

Cont Mist cum Tinct e Kino u. a. & Rx. Pulv Rad Rhei Pulv. G Kino aa gr V M cap. dos bis indies

January 21 Has taken the powders as directed & his looseness is considerably relieved. He has seldom more than two stools in the day

Appetite mended. Pulse about 80. But still with frequent intermissions.

Interm. Mist. cum Tinct. e Kino Cont. Pulv. e Kino ter de die. u. a

28. Had a severe return of the looseness on Wednesday last & the aliment employed was passed in an undigested state. But he is somewhat easier since he omitted the powders which he thinks have had the effect of increasing his looseness. Interm Med & Rx. Tinct. e Kino. Tinct Absinthe aa ℥iii Tinct. Theb ℥ii M cap. ℥p bis indies

February 4^th Has taken the mixture as directed, & his looseness has been much more moderate, while all his other symptoms are considerably relieved.

Cont. Med. u. a.

11 His looseness has been somewhat increased since last report, but at present he has seldom above two or three stools in the day & the feculent matter discharged appears to be sufficiently digested.

Cont. Med. u. a.